US20140113262A1 - Method of developing a golf grip and swing and fitting equipment to a golf swing and ball travel - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is forming a secure golf club gripping style or structure using only the limbs of one's body. A limb-only base golf swing is thereafter produced using the formed grip, thus eliminating the use of any ill-fitting or inconsistent golf clubs, external influences upon said base golf swing that can cause change and/or inconsistency in said base swing. Further disclosed is using said limb-only base golf swing as the most accurate and consistent reference base golf swing possible toward the further improvement of one's base swing and/or the fitting of golf equipment to one's base golf swing existing at the time of the equipment fitting. Disclosed is producing at least one golf club or other piece of equipment to any equipment specification value determined during the fitting process. The present invention may be applied to other activities besides golf, both athletic and non-athletic in nature.

Description

• This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 12/217,569, filed Jul. 7, 2008, which claims the benefit of provisional Application No. 60/948,484, filed Jul. 9, 2007.
• A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND
• The present invention generally relates to the field of a golf swing and related golf equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to developing a limb-only golf grip and golf swing that is absent any external, swing-altering elements such as golf clubs and/or fitting golf equipment to a golf swing using a limb-only golf swing, absent said equipment, as a reference swing to emulate when said equipment is in hand. The term “limb-only” in the present invention refers not just to the forming of a golf grip with only one's hands and subsequently swinging as such, but also refers to the removal or elimination of any other potential devices in contact with or otherwise meant to influence a golfer and meant to perhaps help guide or form the golfer's swing, usually applied in accordance with someone else's idea of what a good golf swing should be like. While not reasonable in practice, just momentarily thinking of limb-only swinging in terms of its most extreme application of removing even one's garments and then working backward from there just enough to achieve a reasonable state and no more may help one best understand how the term is to be applied within the disclosure of the present invention.
• There is a constant search in the golf industry to find new ways to help increase the performance of golfers through better swinging and related golf equipment design and fitting. The game of golf and in particular a golf swing have reputations as activities that are much more difficult to learn than most other activities that humans commonly engage in. This is despite the fact that golf swings are made at objects (in this case golf balls) that are not in motion when swinging at them as opposed to many other activities. Common sense says that such other activities would fundamentally be more difficult to master, thus the broad statement that golf is more difficult does not fundamentally seem to make sense.
• One major reason for the existence of these unwarranted reputations is golf's rather unique format of routinely changing to using different pieces of equipment from one golf swing to another. Even the best designed and constructed golf clubs as one example are not perfect, with one golf club perhaps having a slightly different grip size than the next, the next golf club having a slightly different golf club balance than the one used after that, and so on. Such differences are often enough for even average golfers to notice. This can result in golf swing changes from club to club. Such swing inconsistencies are often viewed as golfers having faults in their developed golf swings when this is just not the case. The present invention overcomes this situation by distinctly separating the pure golf swings made by golfers from external elements that can affect those pure swings. Thus, golf swings can henceforth be analyzed, understood, and developed better than ever before.
• Another major reason for these unwarranted reputations is the unfortunate poor development of proper golf club fitting technique within the golf industry through the years. Incorrect clubfitting theory in several areas has resulted in some very poor golf club fitting practices that often culminate in golfers playing worse after they have been fitted for golf clubs. The present invention's method also advances the science and art of golf club fitting. This is accomplished by implementing a process of equipment fitting that is based on the disclosed foundational, limb-only method of swinging. Unless more specifically detailed, the term “golf club device” in the present disclosure shall broadly refer yet not absolutely be limited to any golf club or golf club part(s) thereof, any type of substitute for a golf club or golf club part(s) thereof including but not limited to a computer simulation(s), or any type of device involved in making, fitting, or altering a golf club, golf club substitute, or golf club specification.
• The present invention is not expressly limited in its usage to the game of golf. Many other sporting (and non-sporting) activities, even those that may use only a single piece of equipment in the course of performing the activity, may benefit greatly from the present invention. By initially separating equipment used and any other external elements as appropriate deemed influential toward the structural action performed in the course of the activity, which can promote change and/or inconsistency in the structural action, the root, limb-only action(s) can be better understood and developed. Then adding additional elements such as equipment into the activity, whereby best reproducing the developed, limb-only action may be the first priority with any other factors secondary, can also help to promote a better understanding and developing of fitting equipment for the activity. Thus, the present invention's method may be used to help improve performance in any number of activities.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention's method begins with forming a secure golf grip using only the limbs of a body to work with, such as by structuring an overlapping or interlocking golf club gripping style. Subsequently, a limb-only golf swing is developed using the formed grip. One of the main objects of such method is to eliminate external influences upon said golf swing. One unique feature of golf is the usual use of many different golf clubs during successive golf swings made. With a virtual impossibility of even one perfect golf club let alone an attempted matched set of multiple perfect clubs due largely to variances in golf club components and construction, various, even minor incongruities among clubs can cause changes and/or inconsistencies from one golf swing to the next. Golf swings are very often considered faulty as a result of this when in fact they are not.
• The melding together of the hands in an overlapping or interlocking fashion as examples in the act of forming a golf grip has existed and been traditionally practiced in golf for more than a century already, but the practice has not as yet been taken advantage of and implemented for the specific and unique purpose disclosed by the present invention. This is because the true reasoning for forming such gripping structures has been radically missing. Only the very general, commonly used statement that the hands “work together as a single unit” better by applying such gripping structures has been given, with no other reasoning as to why this may be judicious. The present invention soundly addresses and corrects this particular issue.
• The present invention further introduces an original method of fitting golf equipment (not limited to golf clubs) to a limb-only golf swing at any stage of development. One step comprises fitting golf club parts and/or specifications such that golf swings produced with a club(s) in hand reproduce limb-only swings as precisely as possible. Another step as desired comprises further fine-tuning golf club parts and/or specifications to clubfitting facets not directly related to base limb-only golf swing performance such as a desired ball travel result, wherein the swing performance achieved in the prior clubfitting step is maintained as the prime priority in order to accomplish the best overall clubfit possible. Thus, the present invention also advances the science and art of equipment fitting, which in the past most often comprised combining at least two fitting facets into a single step that should be separated systematically, often leading to confusion and producing less-than-successful results when trying to improve golfing performance through equipment fitting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
• FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a ten-finger or baseball style golf grip and its features, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 illustrates the beginning of the formation of an overlap or Vardon golf gripping style, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a partially completed overlapping grip viewed from the left somewhat, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 4 illustrates a completed overlapping or Vardon golf grip and its unique features, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 5 illustrates the beginning of the formation of an interlocking golf gripping style, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 6 through 11 illustrate a front view of a limb-only sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping grip and thus without the need for a club or any other device(s), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 12 through 17 illustrate a side view of a limb-only sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping grip and thus without the need for a club or any other device(s), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIGS. 18 through 23 illustrate a front view of a sequence of a golf swing using an overlapping gripping style and also using a golf club, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 24 illustrates the use of a launch monitor to determine ball travel characteristics after being struck to aid in the fitting of golf equipment based on ball travel, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and
• FIG. 25 illustrates a flow chart of the steps of the method of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, various stages of forming a golf grip using only one's limbs and without using any golf clubs or other devices, the learning of a golf swing using only one's limbs and without using any golf clubs or other devices that can negatively influence the performance and/or consistency of a golf swing, and the fitting of equipment used in golf, most notably golf clubs, based upon the learned golf swing.
• Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations may be set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features might be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
• Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation. The phrases “one embodiment” and “the embodiment” are used often. The phrases generally do not refer to the same embodiment, however, they may. The terms “comprising,” “having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.
• FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of hand positions taken when forming a golf grip, which can be accomplished using only one's own limbs and without the use of an actual golf club or any other device. Such a process of learning how to form a golf grip is a preferable first step in learning how to effectively perform the motion of a golf swing. The process can also be applied to more effectively fit golf equipment. As many as fourteen golf clubs are now allowed under the rules of golf when playing the game. No matter how far technology advances, there can always be at least small imperfections, tolerances, and other differences in the construction of one golf club to the next. Such differences are often enough to affect one's golf swing when changing from one golf club to another. A lack of acceptable golf swing ability is often blamed for such differences in swing consistency when in fact there is nothing wrong at all with the underlying golf swing.
• The use of multiple and variable pieces of equipment for the same activity is one of golf's unique features. This unique feature is one very important reason why a reference or base golf swing should be learned in the absence of any golf clubs or other external devices or influences that can be inconsistent in nature or otherwise contribute to inconsistent or otherwise poor development of a golf grip and/or golf swing structure. Achieving this goal results in the most consistent, repeatable, and reliable swing motion possible without any external influences being present to affect the base swing. Very precise comparisons may then be made between the base swing and swinging performed with various golf clubs, golf club specifications, or other devices. While there are devices made to substitute for golf clubs with the intent of helping one learn to hold onto and/or make a better golf swing, none of these other devices are necessary when the present invention's method is applied and all other such devices may be eliminated. Such other devices may also attempt to develop golfers' golf grips and/or golf swings based on someone else's idea of what a good golf grip and/or swing should be like, whereas the present invention gives golfers the best opportunity to develop their own most effective grips/swings based upon their physical and psychological attributes.
• In addition to swing performance inconsistency that can be caused by switching between abundant, imperfect golf clubs, the golf industry unfortunately has to this point had a history of developing and implementing multiple incorrect golf swing and clubfitting theories and practices. This often results in golfers swinging and playing worse after they take golf club swinging lessons and/or have been fitted for golf clubs than before they engaged in those activities. It can often be seen that a golfer that appears to have a less efficient golf swing with a golf club in hand actually has a very efficient golf swing when the golf club is taken out of the golfer's hand and he or she is observed swinging using the present invention's method. Such inefficient swinging with a golf club in hand is the result of ineffective golf swing teaching and/or clubfitting procedure that is quite common throughout the golf industry. This inefficiency might be traced to several factors, including but not limited to the long-used golf club specification of swingweighting, which to this day is not understood well and does not work precisely for a considerable number of golfers. The present invention's method helps to overcome these stated problems.
• InFIG. 1, shown is a common gripping style of a right-handed golfer who perhaps may not be as experienced at playing golf as some others, with theright hand20 placed completely beyond theleft hand22. Thelittle finger24 of the right hand is butted up against theindex finger26 of the left hand, with no overlapping or intertwining of those hand parts. Theleft thumb28 may or may not protrude typically just slightly into the palm of theright hand20, perhaps being wrapped around by thelittle finger24 of the right hand.
• The gripping style ofFIG. 1 is often referred to as a ten-fingered or baseball style grip and is often the first, most natural way that beginning players will grip a golf club for a period of time. There are, however, some very talented and experienced golfers that also prefer using this style of gripping a golf club. This gripping style is very closely related to the hand-next-to-hand configurations that are routinely and naturally utilized in most other sporting activities such as swinging a baseball bat or tennis racket. Such a gripping style is also routine in many common, everyday, non-sporting activities as well. These activities can include but not be limited to those using devices having handles, such as tools for construction and gardening and kitchenware for cooking. While the ten-finger grip is still used by some and may be used in connection with gripping a golf club, there can be disadvantages of using such a gripping structure in golf in light of the golfing aspects described above. Note inFIG. 1 how, without a common and presumed straight object running through both hands, the axis lines as determined independently through each hand,30 for theright hand20 and32 for theleft hand22, can easily run at different angles with respect to each other when implementing this gripping style.
• Because these angles may not be as consistent as when an actual golf club is used and a golf shaft with a straighter axis (as defined by the rules of golf) runs through the twohands20 and22, a resultant golf swing made with the hands at different angles can result in a noticeably different golf swing motion being made than when using an actual golf club. As a result, a golf swing made in a limb-only fashion when implementing such a golf grip structure is commonly inaccurate and a different performance of a golf swing compared with a swing made where the angles of the axes through the hands are more consistent and equal. This discrepancy of the hands commonly running at different angles when using a ten-fingered or baseball style gripping structure renders such a structure considerably less effective toward both efficient golf swing development and golf club fitting with respect to the present invention's method. In addition to this difference in hand position angles before a golf swing is even begun, using a baseball style grip when swinging without any golf club or golf-club-like device in hand results in the hands being much more prone to additional independent changes in angles, positions, and/or movements during actual swinging. This allows yet greater potential for various inconsistencies and/or errors relative to swinging with actual golf clubs.
• The embodiment ofFIG. 2 shows the beginnings of the most common golf gripping style that has developed through the history of golf thus far. It is usually known as the overlapping grip, sometimes referred to as the Vardon grip, named after past golfer Harry Vardon, who was very instrumental in popularizing this particular gripping style. The common overlapping grip in golf can be very awkward to develop in the beginning for players wanting to learn how to play golf or play golf better. The reasoning behind developing this gripping style as being advantageous toward playing the game of golf well, as generally given by the golf industry, is that this gripping style allows the hands to work better together as a single unit. While this statement is indeed true, it is also a statement that is very much misinterpreted by most and not explained very well within the golf industry. This has resulted in misconceptions regarding why golfers should work toward developing such a gripping style in order to improve their ability at playing golf.
• At first glance, it may seem unnecessary and even detrimental to develop such a seemingly unnatural golf gripping style. For one thing, learning how to hit an object that is motionless while swinging at it is inherently easier to accomplish than if the object were in motion while trying to hit it. As such, and putting aside other factors like the comparatively small size of a golf ball that contributes to the game's overall challenge, learning how to swing at and hit a golf ball is easier than, as one example, learning how to swing at and hit a pitched baseball, which can be moving at different speeds and different directions while trying to hit it. Additionally, more swing speed may be developed when the hands are abutting each other on an implement being swung (like a baseball bat) as opposed to the hands being partially overlapped or similar relative to each other. (However, an abutting grip style may require a higher level of coordination and may be a more difficult skill to develop in order to obtain that higher swing speed). Once gotten used to, coordination about the hands may not be as demanding when an overlapping or similar gripping style is implemented, resulting in swing performance that is not as difficult.
• In combining these principles addressed in the preceding paragraph, a situation comes to light that would seem to impede the achieving of the best golfing performance for a golfer. If a golf swing is already an easier activity to learn than so many other activities that humans have proven they can excel and accomplish so much at, and if golfers are always on the lookout for, among other things, the ability to hit a golf ball farther, something that an easier ten-fingered or baseball grip might help achieve within one's golf game, then why would a particular gripping structure that can be initially difficult to get used to be recommended to help make a golf swing even easier than it already is while potentially sacrificing other possible advantages like obtaining more distance? The answer is in knowing the highly specific reason(s) for developing such a distinct gripping style. The golf industry has seemingly forever basically asserted that golf swing difficulty is the reason, but foundationally this assertion has no merit and has led to much misinformation being presented over time about a golf swing and golf club fitting as two examples. The present invention soundly corrects and advances certain of this information.
• It is again established here that one very unique feature of golf is that of regularly swinging multiple, various, imperfect golf clubs on successive swings, variant golf clubs that can affect swinging performance and the consistency of swinging performance. Thus, it is highly advantageous to learn to effectively perform a golf swing without the use of any golf clubs or golf-club-like devices. Eliminating as many external, swing-influencing elements as possible, such as the multiple and various inconsistencies encountered when swinging while switching between many different imperfect golf clubs, is the best and most accurate way of determining crucial golf swing performance characteristics.
• In other activities, even if any equipment used is imperfect, a performer usually at least has the luxury of performing with the identical piece of equipment over and over again, getting more used to it as more repetitions are made and giving the performer a better chance to make any wanted/needed adjustments. The game of golf generally affords no such luxury, with a switch between a first club and second club perhaps resulting in a slightly different grip size, between the second and a third club maybe resulting in a slightly different golf club balance, and so on, with usually only one swing made with each before a different club must be used in the normal course of playing the game. It is a very common occurrence for a golfer and/or swing instructor to conclude that satisfactory progress has been made with respect to the golfer's swing improvement during instruction while working with just one particular golf club, only to subsequently find out when actually playing the game in a normal manner that little to no swing improvement has in fact taken place. Many golfers indeed swing worse after such instruction, with the present invention plainly explaining why this commonly occurs.
• These are the real, detailed reasons for the development and existence of a golf club gripping structure such as the overlapping grip. Yet while this most popular gripping style has been around for about a century in golf already, the true reasoning for its existence has not been properly understood to this point. The correct foundation for the application of such a gripping structure for holding on to a golf club comprises a sequence of first learning how to structurally grip a golf club in the absence of any golf clubs or other grip-influencing elements, subsequently analyzing and/or learning the golf swing of choice in the absence of any golf clubs (so as to eliminate their inconsistent effects on base golf swing development) or other elements or devices that can undesirably affect base golf swing development or the consistency of base swing development, and furthermore utilizing the formed limb-only swing as a base golf swing to emulate in the course of most effectively fitting golf equipment to help obtain the best comprehensive golfing performance.
• It is this specific situation of implementing a gripping structure and making a golf swing in a limb-only manner where the commonly-known golfing expression of wanting the hands to work together as a single unit within a golf swing becomes extremely relevant and meaningfully defined with respect to golf swing performance. The expression really has no relevant meaning if dealing with forming a golf grip and swinging a golf club when an actual golf club is always present and in hand. The present invention utilizes this information effectively to implement an advanced use of such gripping technique to learn how to swing a golf club and fit equipment related to golf more efficiently. When utilizing a golf club or other golf club device, a common axis through both hands is typically provided around which the hands of a golfer are placed. There is no need for the hands to work better together as a single unit under such a circumstance.
• Since many, much more difficult human actions are performed exquisitely using gripping styles on equipment where the hands simply abut each other, the expression that the hands should “work together as a single unit” is an irrelevant and unnecessary concern with respect to golf swing performance when actual golf clubs or golf club devices are used. With no golf clubs or external devices however, a condition under which it is extremely critical to learn to perform a golf swing effectively because of the game's unique equipment usage feature as already detailed, the need for the hands to “work together as a single unit” becomes a structural element that can truly be better appreciated and understood toward learning or teaching a limb-only base golf swing and also fitting related equipment most effectively.
• InFIG. 2, a typical overlapping grip begins with the positioning of thelittle finger24 of theright hand20 essentially underneath theindex finger26 of the left hand22 (for a right-handed golfer again).
• In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, a partially completed overlapping grip as viewed somewhat from the left side, the right-hand20little finger24 overlaps the left-hand22index finger26. As a result of this procedure, notice how thethumb28 of the left hand tends to move much further down into theright hand20, commonly extending to a point where the middle two fingers of theright hand20 can securely hold onto thethumb28 of the left hand, whereas inFIG. 1 theleft thumb28 may be barely or not at all protruding into theright hand20 due to the ten-fingered or baseball gripping style.
• FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a completed overlapping golf grip, which is securely formed without the need for any golf clubs or golf club devices. By using such a method of forming a golf grip, the hands can function in a manner without using any golf clubs or golf-club-like devices equivalent to that of when actual golf clubs are used. This is the time and place, without any external device being held on to, in which the long-existing expression in golf of the hands needing to “work together as a single unit” can begin to be justly applied in a relevant context (and continuing through the entire limb-only swinging process) with respect to a golf swing and the related fitting of golf equipment. Again take particular note of how much further into theright hand20 theleft thumb28 extends with this structure of gripping a golf club, providing a secure means (the left thumb28) for at least the middle twofingers34 of theright hand20 to hold onto in the course of any golf swing made. Furthermore, such a gripping structure helps assure that bothhands20 and22 stay on thesame axis36 throughout any swing motion made, the same condition that would occur if a golf club or golf club device were used while making a golf swing.
• In order to functionally mimic the existence of an actual golf club, some features of taking a no-club golf grip may commonly and naturally be different from that of gripping an actual golf club. These differences may include, but are not limited to, curling up the left hand fingers into the palm of theleft hand22 to emulate the grip end of a golf club when none is present, of which said fingers would normally be positioned around a golf grip if one were present. This may be seen best inFIGS. 1 and 4. Also, theleft thumb28 extending well into the right hand20 (best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4) acts as part of a golf grip and/or shaft for the right-hand20 middle fingers (34 inFIG. 4) to securely hold on to during a swing when a golf club or golf club device is not present. Were a golf club actually present, the right-hand middle fingers would usually generally be placed about the back part of a golf grip rather than the left-hand thumb28, with the left-hand thumb28 usually generally placed about the front part of a golf grip rather than more within the right-hand20middle fingers34.
• In referencingFIG. 3 again, with no golf club or golf club device present the left-hand22index finger26 may be protruded slightly more toward the ground than the other fingers of theleft hand22 when thehands20 and22 are in a typical gripping position than when a typical gripping position is being taken on a typical golf grip. The right-handlittle finger24 might then be moved beyond the protrudingindex finger26 in order to further aid in securing the twohands20 and22 together when a limb-only gripping and swinging process is implemented. Making such modifications usually become rather natural and intuitive when working toward forming a secure golf grip when no golf clubs or golf club devices are present. However, golf clubs that are designed and fit well, including but not limited to suitably designed and fit golf shafts and grips, will allow golfers to reproduce their same hand positions relative to each other and to the remainder of the golfers' bodies when such golf clubs are used as that produced when efficient gripping structures are implemented without any golf clubs or golf club devices. A base golf swing, free of any potential external influences, can thus be developed and is essentially defined as a golf swing made using only the limbs of the body after a base, limb-only golf grip is formed as the foundation of said base golf swing. This base swing at whatever stage of development can then be used as the best reference swing possible for any given golfer at any given time to help most efficiently improve the playing and/or teaching of various facets of the game of golf. The base swing might be referenced against particulars not limited to swings made with golf clubs having various club specifications and specification values for clubfitting purposes, used as a reference for determining swing teaching and/or clubfitting techniques, and/or used as a reference to potentially compare against other limb-only base golf swing styles for swing improvement purposes.
• FIG. 5 shows the beginnings of another type of popular golf gripping structure that accomplishes much the same thing as the overlapping grip. This style is known as an interlocking grip. In this style, the right-hand20little finger24 is placed in between the left-hand22index finger26 and itsadjacent finger38 and generally extends underneath theleft hand22. Also, the left-hand22index finger26 is placed in between the right-hand20little finger24 and itsadjacent finger40 and generally extends under theright hand20.
• The ability to form a structurally secure grip and make a base golf swing using only the body's limbs applies to every type of swinging motion, and it is equally crucial for developing a stroke and fitting equipment when putting in golf. Due to factors that may include putting strokes generally being shorter than other golf strokes, the shorter length of grass from which putting strokes are usually made, and differences in body posture during the set-up and stroking of putts that may be influenced by the first two factors mentioned, gripping structures for putting can often be somewhat different from that of other golf swings. One very common putting gripping structure (although not limited to putting by any means) is called the reverse-overlap grip. In referencingFIG. 3, the reverse-overlap grip is essentially the same as the overlap grip shown, except that the left-hand22index finger26 overlaps the right-hand20little finger24 instead. Another gripping style that has become popular more recently has been the cross-handed grip, in which theright hand20 andleft hand22 actually trade places (still for a right-handed golfer). There may or may not be any overlapping of limbs when using a cross-handed gripping structure, but doing so can aid in unifying the hands during limb-only gripping and stroking in the same manner as that described for other golf club gripping structures.
• Other gripping structures may be developed and used as desired for the purpose of being able to effectively make and/or develop a consistently repeatable base golf swing without the need of any golf clubs or golf club devices as external elements. Such external elements can regularly introduce unwanted inconsistencies into a golf swing that may incorrectly be deemed golf swing flaws. The more swings that are able to be performed by way of eliminating as many external influential elements as possible, the better the golf swing development will be accurately identified and the more accurate comparisons will be between the base reference swing and any other swings performed with any other external elements introduced. Better decisions can thus be made regarding working toward improving a golf swing, the fitting of equipment, and overall performing ability.
• Most people in golf would agree that the structure or style in which a golfer grips a golf club is one of the most prominent factors affecting the way the golfer's swing develops and is performed. The inventor is in complete agreement with this belief and has now disclosed, using the present invention, the most effective method of gripping a golf club that results in any golf swing being as free as possible from the most common inconsistent external influences upon said swing. This is prominently but not expressly limited to the structural elimination of golf clubs in the course of specified processes to aid in best developing an efficient base golf swing and best fit golf clubs to that base golf swing. Commonly occurring inconsistencies and/or errors in the construction and/or fit of multiple golf clubs regularly switched between or even a single golf club when and if used can produce deceptive results regarding the true quality and/or consistency of a golf swing. In eliminating such potentially deceptive elements in a specified manner, a base golf swing may now be performed and further developed much more efficiently than has ever been possible before. In addition to the elimination of golf clubs that are essentially always ill fitting and/or inconsistent to some degree, learning how to efficiently form a golf grip structure in a limb-only manner is the absolute pinnacle of learning how a golf grip should be structured with a golf club in hand. The overall hand positioning structure and the structuring of the hands relative to each other within a limb-only grip structure is fundamentally exactly the way the hands should be structured with a golf club in hand. The limb-only gripping process is the very best way to learn what the grip structure should ideally be like and how it should ideally be formed when an actual golf club is added. In addition to the limb-only gripping structure indicating the proper basic gripping structure for when a golf club is added, it is also the most consistent gripping structure to work with, as various golf club grip sizes and other golf club elements can affect and alter one's hand gripping structure on various golf clubs in a rather natural manner, thus also affecting subsequent golf swing performance. Therefore, the consistency of the limb-only gripping process also promotes consistency in subsequent golf swing performance, an extremely important factor as one's golf swing develops and is thereafter maintained, regardless of whether a golf swing is developed naturally or whether it is developed using a determined specimen of another limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structure, both within the scope of using the present invention's limb-only base golf gripping and swinging structure.
• FIGS. 6 through 11 show a front view sequence of agolfer42 with a limb-only overlapping golf grip formed with hishands44, thus producing a secure golf grip that accurately mimics the presence of and holding onto an actual golf club even though none is present throughout any golf swing without the use of any external golf clubs or golf-club-like devices that can regularly promote swing-influencing inconsistencies and other unwanted effects on a golfer's true base golf swing.FIG. 6 shows a start or an address position. An “address” is a portion of the pre-swing initiated when taking a stance over a golf ball or position of a golf ball and ended with the start of a swing. A “pre-swing” is discussed in far greater detail later in this disclosure. Although the rules of golf generally define a golf stroke (swing) as only the forward movement of a swing (with a conscious intent to strike a golf ball), a golf “swing” herein is more broadly considered to be any movement begun with a conscious intent to hit a golf ball or simulated golf ball, including any part of a backswing. Furthermore, for the purpose of the present invention, later in this disclosure the term is further expanded to include the pre-swing period.FIG. 7 shows a golf swing approximately half way back toward a completed backswing, whileFIG. 8 displays a typical completed backswing of a golfer.FIG. 9 demonstrates a common forward swing position of a golfer about halfway through the forward swing.FIG. 10 shows a typical impact position about when a golfer would typically make contact with a golf ball, andFIG. 11 displays an approximate follow-through finish of a golf swing.
• The embodiment ofFIGS. 12 through 17 display thesame golfer42, the same secure limb-only overlapping grippingstructure44, and the same golf pre-swing and swing positions described in and corresponding toFIGS. 6 through 11, but from a side view.
• Different golf swing styles or structures that are taught by different individual teachers or organizations sometimes seem to be as numerous as there are golfers. The present invention does not distinguish between such swinging styles, as any golf swing style imaginable may be taught/learned most efficiently using the present invention. In fact, some elements of golf clubs or golf club devices as examples can indeed hamper the learning of any swinging style when these elements are incorporated in an attempt to help improve golfer swinging. As one example, a poorly fitted golf club with a recommended grip size that is too large for a golfer might result in the golfer unfavorably slicing (curving) a golf ball to the right (for a right-handed golfer), potentially resulting in his or her golf swing motion being deemed faulty by a golf swing teacher due to the occurrence. This may lead to an unnecessary and/or incorrect golf swing alteration recommendation(s), including a potential alteration of the golfer's gripping structure that can aid in governing the golfer's entire swing. The reverse is also very common, where again a golfer's swing might be deemed faulty due to the swinging of a poorly fitted golf club in one or more ways, and a golf club change may be recommended based upon that perceived faulty golf swing, whereas a different golf club change might be recommended if the golfer's base golf swing were not deemed faulty. Getting into this seeming never-ending circle between one's golf swing and golf clubs can lead to some disastrous golf swing and/or golf club fitting recommendations. But upon removing the external and ill-fitting golf club noted above from the golfer's hands as per the present invention's method and analyzing the golfer's swing independently from that golf club (or any golf club or golf club device), it may be found that the golfer makes a beautifully formed golf swing in accordance with whatever swinging style is being taught. By considering golf swing performance completely independently from any external elements (golf club fitting in this instance), the present invention is not subject to the errors described above.
• The present invention allows the teaching and/or learning of any element of any preferred golf swing using only a body's limbs, eliminating other elements including golf clubs that can and do influence swinging and/or the consistency of swinging. Without using the present invention, a golf swing routinely gets blamed for being faulty or inefficient when in fact there are no fundamental problems with the swing. One swing-affecting element that is defined here as a “swing performance element” and that can be worked on using the present invention includes the golf gripping structure or style itself as mentioned above, which may comprise a choice of using a gripping style already discussed such as an overlapping, interlocking, or baseball grip. Additionally, it might be preferred to turn the hands to a weaker position (represented by thehands20 and22 as seen inFIG. 4 rotated more to the left about the grip axis36) or a stronger position (hands20 and22 rotated to the right). The presence of an actual golf club, golf club grip, or golf club device as examples is not required in order to effectively work on these grip structure elements in trying to ultimately create an efficient golf swing, and these example external devices can even be disadvantageous toward this goal.
• Other swing performance elements that may be worked on even within a limb-only gripping and swinging structure include swing plane, various foot placement and footwork elements during the swing, address posture, pre-swing movement and/or positioning, swinging balance, tempo, and timing or overall swing coordination, angle of descent during the forward swing, hand release location during the forward swing and other release factors, backswing elements, swing speed and direction (with no golf club needed), and/or anything else that can be worked on when also adding in golf clubs, golf club devices, and/or any other external elements. In fact, some golf swing positions may not be able to be precisely held for any length of time when using a real golf club (due to various golf club characteristics), but they might be held longer and better when using no club and just one's own limbs. Thus, it could be stated that even more golf swing elements might be better analyzed and worked on when using the present invention, yet another advantage of the present invention. Holding a swing position at the top of the backswing inFIG. 8 where no golf club is in hand for the purpose of analyzing and/or working on that swing position might be done longer and/or more precisely and may be more advantageous than holding the same swing position inFIG. 20 where a golf club is in hand as one example.
• The analyzing, learning, and/or teaching of any style of golf swing can be achieved using the present invention better than has ever been possible before. Initially eliminating as many external influences on a golf swing as possible, such as golf clubs or golf club devices, can be applied to great advantage. While additional means is not mandatory in order to analyze, teach, and/or learn any style of golf swing using the present invention, supplemental aid may be helpful, devised, and used as desired, including but not limited to using computer-implemented and/or video resources. Specific limb-only or clubless golf swing positions may be compared against a specimen of another golfer's limb-only or clubless swing positions for example. As another example, when people analyze a golf swing it is very important for many of them to know the exact positioning of a golf club head at any point during the swing. To that end, a golf club device that might be a computer-generated golf club developed through hardware and/or software means might be added to a computer and/or video image as possible examples of what is initially a limb-only or clubless golf swing performance specimen by a golfer. By developing and utilizing such a golf club device, the detailed positioning of any part of a golf club might still be analyzed during golfer swinging, yet the present invention's distinct advantage of originally eliminating unwanted external influences on the golfer's swing (golf clubs in this instance) in order to obtain the best analysis of the golfer's true base golf swing can still be implemented. In accordance with any desired structure or style of base golf grip and/or swing development and in accordance with the present invention, one's golf grip and/or swing structure or style may be worked on in a limb-only manner, yet the results of the work might be analyzed with a computer-generated golf club device added to one or more specimens of the golfer's actual limb-only performance if desired if deemed beneficial to the learning or teaching process.
• In using the limb-only process of learning or teaching a base golf grip and/or swing structure or style more efficiently than has ever been possible before, with or without utilizing a supplemental golf club device of which one embodiment has just been described, it might be decided to fundamentally allow a golfer's swing to further develop on its own based on the golfer's physical and/or psychological attributes. The golfer can be monitored over time for changes to or further developments of even just the limb-only structure or style and changes implemented as desired, with the overall limb-only base golf grip and/or swing learning or teaching process of the present invention still being immensely more efficient than if the same process were attempted with the use real golf clubs that are essentially always ill-fitting and/or inconsistent to some degree and which essentially always negatively affects to some degree the base golf grip and/or swing learning or teaching process. The specific term “golf grip substitute” is introduced and defined here as any device placed within or about one's hands in lieu of forming a completely limb-only base golf gripping structure that does not substantially alter a limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structure or performance. The using of a golf grip substitute device is considered synonymous with using a limb-only base golf gripping structure or comparable terminology for the purpose of implementing the present invention unless specifically indicated otherwise.
• If decided that it is insufficient to allow any given golfer's golf grip and/or swing structure or style to individually develop using the present invention's limb-only base process supplemented by the golfer's own physical and psychological characteristics, then it may be decided to manipulate the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing in accordance with determined existing golf grip and/or swing fundamentals. Certain such fundamentals are often considered traditional in nature and/or already well known within the golf industry. Such fundamentals are commonly documented in a wide variety of formats which can be considered specimens to work from or emulate. It is to be distinctly noted here, however, that certain elements between learning or teaching a golf grip and/or swing structure or style in a base limb-only manner and a golf-club-using manner can be fundamentally quite different. As a result, and given the newness of the limb-only base golf grip and swinging structures, there is no developed history of fundamentals yet for best developing certain limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures or styles and fundamentals traditionally applied toward best developing certain golf-club-using golf grip and/or swing structures or styles may be invalid for use with the limb-only base process of the present invention.
• As related earlier, the present invention may be applied to uncounted activities in addition to golf, both sporting and non-sporting activities. By initially eliminating as much equipment and as many other elements as possible deemed influential to the true base performance of any activity, the foundational performance of the activity can first be analyzed/developed in the most efficient manner possible before any additional external influential elements are introduced that make an analysis of the performance of the activity more complex.
• Other options also exist for implementing and further developing a golfer's limb-only base gripping and/or swinging structures. A particular specimen to emulate may be sought out for reference toward applying the structure(s) as desired. This might comprise as an example obtaining a specimen of one or more renowned and/or successful golfers forming their golf grips and performing their swings in a limb-only base manner for other golfers to emulate if desired. Alternately, one or more limb-only base golf grip and swing structures or styles that are different from any previous structures or styles may be developed. Such specimens might comprise one or more angles of video or might consist of reference data of a more computer-implemented nature. A reference specimen goal might even be artificially produced from a golfer's own current information as related below. A limb-only base golf grip and swing structure or style specimen to work from and reference may even be contained in a textbook manual to be taught by a golf swing instructor. As an example,FIGS. 6 through 17 comprise multiple views and positions of what might be considered a fundamental and yet in certain ways unique specimen of a limb-only base golf grip and swing that one might choose to emulate and reference while trying to learn the overall motion and/or any individual positions within the motion. There can be countless limb-only golf grip and swing specimen subjects available representing untold different limb-only base golf grip and swing structures or styles and available in various specimen formats for referencing toward emulating such structures or styles. It can reasonably be assumed that for any golf swing teacher teaching a limb-only golf swing structure that is unique and which may not be documented elsewhere, the teacher can actually perform the swing being taught, in which case any such live performance of the swing structure can be considered a specimen to work from. While perhaps considered a crude specimen today and undesirable in that it generally cannot be reproduced precisely the same every time plus typically cannot be repeated at will for reference the way a specimen that is machine recorded and readable commonly can for example, a live specimen can nevertheless still be very effective toward emulating that specimen.
• It can be distinctly noted here that in this day and age of technological advancements and options, it would presumably not be overly difficult to obtain a specimen of a well-known golfer swinging a golf club, electronically remove the golf club, and simply call the result a limb-only base golf swing specimen of the golfer. This of course defeats the entire purpose of the best embodiment of the present invention, and most people do not realize how often even some of the best golfers play with golf clubs that are not nearly as good as they could be in the way of fit and how much the swings of many of these players would actually change when actually swinging without a golf club as opposed to swinging with a club and having a part of such a specimen simply erased through technology. While generally speaking the best players understand golf clubs and golf club fitting and have better fitting clubs, players of this level still often fall far short with respect to the best possible fit of their golf clubs, and it is literally impossible to know whether any player's swing would not noticeably change at all or change substantially between limb-only and golf-club-added conditions unless and until actual swings are made under both conditions. Thus, the prospect of formulating a “fake” limb-only base golf swing structure as just described for any golfer is an extremely poor and fallible manner of pursuing the implementation of the present invention.
• In addition to getting a specimen to emulate if developing a specific limb-only base golf grip and swing structure or style is desired for a golfer, a workable specimen might also be secured for the golfer performing the golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing. Here also, cruder specimens might be no more than a golfer observing himself in a mirror or being observed by another person. Such live specimens can still be used to compare against the specimen to be emulated. But with the greater ease of obtaining, generally low cost, and generally greater benefits of having a video or other type of data recording made of a golfer today that can then be repeatedly referenced with better consistency more easily today also, it would appear that there is little excuse for not having a specimen of a golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing recorded in a machine made and readable format.
• With good working specimens ideally readily available for a golfer's current limb-only golf grip and swing and a limb-only base golf grip and swing structure or style to be emulated, a good quality comparison can be made between the two and a determination(s) made as to how to best further develop the golfer to best emulate the chosen specimen. I reiterate here how critical it is in implementing the present invention that all such specimens are in a limb-only or clubless base format and how immensely different and/or inconsistent golf grips and/or swings can be, for both current specimens and specimens to be emulated, when often ill-fitting and/or inconsistent golf clubs for example are allowed to be used during a base golf grip and swing learning process. As explained further below, devices may be devised and utilized if deemed beneficial toward helping a golfer's golf grip and/or swing transform from the golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing specimen performance to the limb-only base golf grip and swing specimen performance to be emulated in a more efficient manner. But any further “current” specimens produced in order to learn of any progress made by the golfer toward the final goal must always be performed in a limb-only manner again in the best embodiment of the present invention. As described earlier as just one possibility, golf club devices in the form of computer-generated golf clubs might be added to specimens originally and intentionally produced in a limb-only base manner in order to aid in analyzing specimens individually or comparatively among multiple specimens if desired.
• The specimens of a golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing structure and the reference limb-only base golf grip and swing structure or style to be emulated do not necessarily have to be in the same format in order to make an effective comparison(s) between the two. But it may be helpful, particularly if for example specialized hardware and/or software are also used to perform a direct comparison(s) between the limb-only movements, positions, and other characteristics of two specimens of the same format that might be more detailed than a mere visual comparison(s). A computer-implemented comparison(s) of such specimens that might analyze and display comparative data in a visual and/or mathematical manner may be beneficial. However, if such means of specimen comparison(s) are not available or cannot be implemented due to specimens of different formats for instance, a visual analysis or any other means of comparing specimens can be implemented as desired and can still be highly effective due to the fundamental nature of the present invention of the specimens being in limb-only structures or styles to begin with.
• Other types of comparative analyses beyond the computer-implemented process just suggested include but are not limited to direct comparisons of visually recorded specimens, as might be done independently or with the aid of any of a seemingly limitless number of different hardware and/or software golf swing analysis devices available. A “golf swing analysis device” can broadly encompass any device that can provide any information regarding a performed golf swing, even if providing simple information in perhaps the form of video or other data with no other analysis provided, such as with a home video recording. A golf swing analysis device is not required to be electronic in nature, although most are today. With some of these devices, video specimens might possibly be superimposed over one another to more easily observe differences between them. Some might have databases of various golfer swings preprogrammed into them and provide an analysis of one or more swing performance elements between any such preprogrammed swings and the inputted swing of a golfer. While many are based on video imaging with various amounts of computer software programming added for various features that may or may not include multiple golf swing comparison capabilities, others can use sensor devices of various types, sometimes placed directly on a golfer, to gather various kinds of golf swing information and data for analysis. Prices and features among such golf swing analysis devices might range from being free to extremely expensive and how each might be applied to help make implementing the present invention more convenient can vary greatly. While the use of certain golf swing analysis devices may help implement the present invention in a more efficient manner, it is not mandatory that such a device be present in order to implement the present invention.
• Another possibility is a comparison(s) made by another individual observing one or more swing performance elements between specimens of different swings (with one of the swings possibly being his/her own) and offering observations, suggestions, and/or other aid to help a golfer learn to emulate a desired limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structure. Through this limb-only process the present invention can help golfers develop base golf grip and swing structures or styles in a much more efficient manner than has ever been possible before. Regarding any specimen selected to be emulated, it may be determined that any given golfer is to emulate all elements of the specimen as completely as possible or emulate only one or more particular elements of the specimen.
• Regardless of whether it is determined to further develop a golfer's current golf grip and swing based upon the underlying limb-only structure of the present invention by allowing the golfer's own physical and psychological style develop further, through the emulation of another's already-existing limb-only base golf grip and swing structure, or through a newly-developed limb-only base golf grip and swing structure, specific devices and/or exercises may be developed and utilized as desired to help a golfer best develop the desired limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structure or style. One such aiding device is described later. Another such device may comprise the inputting of data from a golfer's currently existing limb-only base golf grip and swing and/or any other potentially influential elements like certain golfer physical body measurements (height, weight) and/or psychological attributes as examples into one or more computer-implemented hardware and/or software devices in which such data may be used to configure an artificial interpretation and representation of what the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing should ultimately be like, which in turn might be applied toward helping the golfer achieve such a limb-only base golf grip and/or swing if desired. For the purpose of the present invention, the term “golfer substitute” may be used to represent any type of artificial portrayal of any golfer or any part of any golfer's performance other than a live performance and may include but not be limited to everything from a video reproduction to a computer simulation that might be represented only in the form of a stick figure produced from numerical and/or sensor data obtained from any given golfer.
• With the present invention providing a better method of teaching, learning, and/or performing a golf swing, the invention's method may be further extended to also improve past means of fitting golf equipment, including all golf clubs. Alternately, the present invention's method of using only the body's limbs to develop a golf grip and swing structure might be separated from the equipment fitting process, for which an independent equipment fitting method can be formed.
• Golf club fitting methods of the past have predominantly been comprised of methods having a single focus. This single focus has been one of fitting golf clubs based on the way a golf ball travels after being hit by a golfer, with an underlying assumption that the straighter, longer, and more solid the golf ball travel result is, the better the golfer is swinging. This statement, however, is regularly proven false, with golfers routinely making good golf swings and still obtaining bad golf ball travel results due to certain golf club specification values fitting a golfer well and others fitting the golfer poorly as just one of many examples, or getting very good ball travel results from a swing that is not performed well at all due to a golfer sometimes being able to adjust and hit a golf ball as desired even while making a poorly coordinated golf swing as just one of many examples. In other cases, golf ball travel results and golf swing performance are both considered in the course of fitting golf clubs to a golfer, yet the two aspects are generally treated mainly as a single, intertwined, and inseparable unit where the same exact clubfitting principles are (wrongly) always applied to either golfing aspect in essentially the same manner. As a result of these two predominant ways of thinking, a two-step fitting process that distinctly separates pure golf swing performance from golf ball travel results has never been successfully developed or even really been considered in the past, resulting in a golf club fitting industry that to this point has had a rather poor record of success and reputation. Insufficient attention has been given to the fitting of golf clubs directly to golf swing performance as a separate and distinct fitting aspect, and the present invention rectifies this situation.
• Inconsistent and/or inaccurate attention paid to golf swing performance in the fitting of golf clubs very often surrounds the use of the word “feel.” Unfortunately, there is abundant inaccuracy and/or confusion within the golf industry regarding certain golf club fitting theories and practices, some of which arises when the word “feel” becomes involved. The word “feel” in golf has in the past been defined in many different ways by different club fitters, golfers, and so-called clubfitting educators that have often been underqualified to date, substantially contributing to this inaccuracy and/or confusion and a lack of better success within the clubfitting trade. A leading reason for this is that certain golfing elements and terms that should always be clearly separated and independent from each other have never been properly divided. The present invention distinctly separates golf swing performance from golf ball travel results, correctly defines the expression of “swing feel” as it should apply in golf (just one particular “feel” of many that can be very specifically defined in golf), and divides the clubfitting process into a highly efficient, comprehensive, two-step method. The term “ball travel” as used within the present invention's disclosure of equipment fitting shall broadly refer to any and all facets of equipment fitting not particularly connected to direct swing performance. In addition to the obviousness of golf ball flight, this may include but not be limited to data from impact patterns between clubfaces and golf balls, divot information through the ground and/or associated marks on clubhead soles, and golf club measurements taken before ball travel begins, such as shaft flexing and/or clubhead position information.
• One common sense, elementary statement made in golf is that in order to consistently play the game to the best of one's ability, the single most important factor in achieving this goal is that one must consistently swing to the best of one's ability. The inventor is in total agreement with this statement. Therefore, the first fundamental of fitting any golf club to any golfer should be to fit the club in accordance with the way one performs his/her limb-only base golf swing, which would be the best, most consistent golf swing(s) the golfer would be able to make at any given point of his/her golf swing development. A major ingredient in the determination of the quality of a performed golf swing is what is commonly referred to as the feel of one's swing. As started above, the term “feel” as used in golf may (and should) actually be defined in multiple, discrete ways. One discreet definition can be “the feel obtained at impact between golf club and golf ball,” which can include the amount of physical vibration felt by one during impact. This type of “feel” might be more crucial to golfers who experience arthritis in their hands, elbow problems, or other physical ailments, and this particular “feel” can be affected by golf club grip size and material, shaft flex and material, and more. Another discreet definition for “feel” can be “the feel of the clubhead on the end of the golf shaft when starting the downswing,” and this particular “feel” might be an important contributing factor when one is trying to determine what shaft flexibility to use in one's golf clubs. These two definitions of “feel” may technically be grouped more broadly under a distinct heading of types of “golf club feel.” Neither of these definitions, however, is related in any way to the term “swing feel” in golf.
• Since it has already been established how the external element of a golf club(s) can so easily and so often influence the performance of one's base golf swing, it stands to reason that in order to most efficiently define the term “swing feel” in golf, every effort must be made to remove the potential influence(s) of any golf clubs or golf club devices from a base or default definition of “swing feel.” The present invention's disclosure allows such a definition of “swing feel” to be authoritatively formulated. In referring back toFIGS. 6 through 11 if needed, the definition of “swing feel” in golf, as newly and better defined here, discretely becomes the physical and/or psychological sensation(s) obtained by a golfer anywhere or anytime in the course of golf swing performance using only the limbs of the body to swing with, absent any golf club, golf club device, or swing device and also eliminating as many other elements and circumstances as possible deemed potentially influential respecting said limb-only golf swing performance, both physical and psychological. Swing feel plays such a critical role in golf that in golf club fitting as one example it can be considered a legitimate golf swing and/or golf club specification with distinct values if defined well enough to start with as done so in the present disclosure. Once one's swing feel is determined, one exceedingly important use of the swing feel golf specification is to carry that swing feel on to when any golf club is in hand and swung. Through comparisons in swing feel between one's limb-only base swing and swings made with any golf clubs or golf club devices comprising various values of any given golf club specification(s), one basically aims to choose a value of any given club specification(s) that when swung most closely reproduces via clubfitting one's limb-only base swing feel for the purpose of acquiring the best fit of that particular golf club specification(s) of a golf club to one's true limb-only base golf swing. It is to be noted here that swing feel as a whole can be further broken down if desired to more particular elements such as swing feel only during a certain part(s) of one's swing and/or swing feel only encompassing a certain part(s) of one's body as examples, and swing feel may be applied only to such a select element(s) if desired. A “swing device” can be very broadly defined for the purpose of this disclosure as anything intended to physically and/or psychologically alter or maintain the performance and/or development of one's current limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures. While the present invention refers mostly to the elimination of external physical elements that can influence one's limb-only base golf swing, golf is often called a mentally difficult game and in certain respects there is some merit to this belief. Therefore, “eliminating as many other elements and circumstances as possible” in the given definition of swing feel also refers to the elimination of psychological obstacles that might prevent one from performing one's best golf swing, regardless of whether one is in a condition of limb-only base swinging or the swinging of an actual golf club as examples. The removal of such psychological obstacles is not limited to only when swing feel is implemented.
• As the terms base golf swing and swing feel are both represented in the present invention in terms of limb-only swinging, these two terms are closely related to each other within this context within the present invention. Despite the greatly improved definition of “swing feel” here toward the term's consistent application within golf club fitting (as well as within the limb-only base golf swing development aspect of the invention already discussed), “swing feel” by the very nature of the term will reasonably retain a degree of subjectiveness that involves unscientific human feelings. If desired, other means may be used to help supplement the application of and perhaps bring more of an objective perspective and/or solution when golfer swing feel is applied. Such means might include but not be limited to an observing and/or recording of a golfer's reference limb-only base golf swing by a qualified independent entity, video, or computer-implemented device, a further observing and/or recording of the golfer's swings made when using various golf clubs or values of any given golf club specification, and making an objective comparison(s) between the reference base golf swing and swings made when using various golf clubs or values of any given golf club specification, such comparison(s) made by said qualified independent entity or and/or a device capable of comparing the observed and/or recorded swings. Such supplemental means might help minimize any subjective conclusions inherent to swing feel if desired when swing feel is applied and may be more beneficial when swing feel is not adequately defined and/or cannot be adequately expressed in the course of any golf swing and/or clubfitting analysis. Such means or any other devised means might be applied to try to completely replace the application of swing feel if desired.
• In separating golf clubs as a whole into smaller parts and specifications, most of these parts and specifications can be fit directly to golf swing performance, including by “swing feel,” without regard to golf ball travel results. This is a foundational first step of an effective clubfitting method to correctly integrate a club with a limb-only base golf swing. Golf club parts include but are not limited to golf grips, shafts, and club heads. Changeable golf club specifications related to such golf club parts that can directly affect base golf swing performance include but are not limited to club length, grip diameter and weight, swingweight (swing weight) or waggle weight, clubhead face angle, shaft weight, and total golf club weight. Measurement units for the values of these and other golf club specifications as well as common ranges that the values of such specifications frequently fall within when fit to golfers are rather well known within the golfing industry and do not need to be elaborated on here. Some clubfitting practitioners list no less than twenty influential golf club specifications. Some specifications, though, such as clubhead loft, are usually more influential of ball travel results than of direct swinging performance. More detailed descriptions of various golf club specifications and their potential influences (although mostly expressed in terms of ball travel results and not direct golf swing performance) can be found in any number of widely available clubfitting materials.
• The present invention does not specify any particular order that golf club parts and specifications are to be fit. Such decision(s) may vary by clubfitting program, organization, or individual clubfitter. Any number of determined specification values may have to be reanalyzed after being initially fit anyhow, as when any club specification is changed, that change might affect the choice of value of one or more other club specifications.
• One of the goals of club designers and makers is to produce golf clubs such that golfers can utilize their bodies in swinging to the fullest of their physical and emotional abilities. This includes developing golf grip designs that result in golfers' hands being ideally situated in the same positions relative to each other (and relative to the remainder of the golfers' bodies) when they structurally take hold of said golf grip designs as their hands are when they structurally form their golf grip without the use of any golf clubs or golf club devices. There is no better way for golfers, golf club designers, makers, fitters, and even golf swing teachers to help achieve this goal than to first determine a golfer's current limb-only base golf grip and swing in the absence of as many external influences as possible (including golf clubs or golf club devices) and then continue the clubfitting process by fitting golf clubs directly to the golfer's limb-only base golf swing, where the base swing is used as a reference swing to emulate and against which to compare swings made with a golf club(s) of varying specification values in order to determine the best golf club fit to the golfer's base golf swing. It can be noted here that, particularly but not always limited to better golfers, the limb-only base golf grips and swings of such players as a practical matter may not have changed or further developed for an undetermined period of time. Thus, a golfer's initial performance of a reference limb-only base golf grip, pre-swing, and/or swing for the purpose of the present invention's clubfitting process is considered to be any past performance of the same if determined or assumed that the golfer's limb-only base golf grip, pre-swing, and/or swing have not changed or further developed since said past performance.
• FIGS. 18 through 23show golfer42 using the same underlying securegolf gripping structure44 as that used inFIGS. 6 through 11 and introduce agolf club46.FIGS. 18 through 23 should be correlated with the same positions illustrated inFIGS. 6 through 11. The objective of this aspect of the present invention's comprehensive method of better golf swing development and golf club fitting comprises striving to fundamentally make the same swing with any given golf club in hand (FIGS. 18-23) as the swing made using only the limbs of the body (FIGS. 6-11). If considering the golf swing development and golf equipment fitting aspects of the present invention to be distinct inventions, then this begins a method of improved equipment fitting.
• In further elaborating about “swing feel,” it can be a very consistent, usable, and important sensation(s), emphasizing again that it could actually be considered a golf club specification if considered in accordance with the definition stated above. Golfers could be very familiar with the positions of every part of their bodies at any point during their golf swings when their swings are unaffected by inconsistent elements like golf clubs, as well as the overall speed (tempo) and coordination of moving body parts in a specific order (timing) of their swings. “Swing feel” applies to all types of golf swings made, from the fullest, hardest of golf swings down to the smallest, most subtle of chipping and putting strokes. Such “swing feel” may be utilized alone within this clubfitting process and communicated between golfer and clubfitter. Despite improved technology analysis devices, subtle differences in “swing feel” might be detectable by the human brain even before a complex external analysis device reveals any swing change(s). Expanding on that previously noted, however, any other desired means may be used to aid in or replace a determination of “swing feel” in analyzing golf swing performance and/or related golf club parts, specifications, and/or specification values in the course of fitting golf clubs directly to base golf swing performance as the first priority of clubfitting.
• Preferred choices of golf club specification values in implementing this clubfitting process might be selected based upon, as one example, detected swing feel changes among golf clubs having different grip sizes while all other golf club specification values remain unchanged and choosing the grip size that best emulates the limb-only base swing feel when swung. Choosing a golf club swingweight value might likewise be decided by varying a golf club's swingweight value while keeping the remaining golf club specification values unchanged. Other club-to-club or same-club changes and comparisons can be made as desired, with the limb-only swing(s) serving as the base swing(s) against which all other swings are to be evaluated against and serving as the swing(s) to be emulated as best as possible when swinging any golf club.
• It is to be broadly noted here that golf club fitting using the present invention can be performed under the same circumstance as any other clubfitting method in that it can be performed at any stage of golf swing development. It is not necessary for a golfer to first “accomplish” a certain level of limb-only base swing development however that might be defined by any given entity. A limb-only base golf grip and swing exists for any golfer at any stage of development, and a golf equipment fitting may be performed using the base golf grip and swing that exists at the time the fitting is performed.
• Certain golf club specification values that can critically affect one's golf swing with a golf club in hand actually need to be determined via the pre-swing period before one's golf swing even begins. Noting one golf club specification measurement in particular as an example, namely that of a rotation point location associated with the golf club specification of waggle weight and its predecessor swingweight (swing weight), this specification can in fact only be measured during the pre-swing period because that is the only time and place the point exists. Yet the value of this golf club specification measurement can have a major impact on the consistency of one's subsequent golf swing(s).
• Other golf club specifications exist that can be fit through either pre-swing or swing analysis as desired. For example, clubhead face angle value is typically chosen based on one's golf ball travel results, but the specification's value can instead be chosen based on the way one addresses a golf ball during the pre-swing. The latter case can be considered fitting the specification's value to one's golf swing rather than ball travel results, as one's golf swing can indeed be affected through fitting face angle in a manner associated with one's pre-swing. As another example, while one's limb-only gripping structure will generally remain very stable regarding one's hand positions due to the elimination of inconsistent golf clubs for instance, when golf clubs are reintroduced one's hand positions can change in a natural manner from what they were when in a limb-only state due to different golf grip sizes and/or other variables. This natural adjusting to varying golf club specification values can be taken advantage of in the course of golf club fitting. Another potential choice is thus introduced whereby one's golf grip size might be selected as described above through swinging clubs with different grip sizes on them, or one might instead use pre-swing comparisons and determine which golf grip size when being held onto results in one's hand positions best emulating one's hand positions as structured when in a base limb-only condition. The latter option is not necessarily recommended when one has the opportunity to actually swing for the purpose of determining one's best golf grip size, as in a direct manner it might be considered fitting one's golf grip size to a reference pre-swing base gripping structure and not to one's golf swing, but it is exposed here for the purpose of showing possible clubfitting options for pre-swing and swing circumstances. Golf club specifications that can affect pre-swing movement and/or positioning are, but are not limited to, grip size and clubhead face angle, which may each influence one's hand positioning relative to the remainder of one's body while preparing to swing, and swingweight or waggle weight, which may affect the speed and/or direction at which pre-swing movements are made. Such factors can critically influence the performance of a subsequent golf swing. Club length might also be chosen to intentionally alter one's body posture or spine angle at address (the address depicted inFIGS. 6,12, and18), which may also affect any of multiple elements of succeeding swinging performance.
• It can be distinctly noted here that due to golf club lengths that typically vary considerably throughout a set of golf clubs plus the varying terrains that golf swings are often made from, one's golf swing address posture notably changes on a regular basis. Yet the underlying quality of coordination of one's golf swing remains essentially unaffected throughout these different address postures and this has been solidly proven throughout the history of golf. As such, differences in one's address posture and resultant effects like slight changes in one's swing plane due to swinging different length clubs for example do not by themselves indicate that one's clubless base golf swing is not being successfully emulated. This same reasoning regarding normally-occurring address posture and swing plane changes in the course of playing golf might also be applied when trying to emulate a particular golf swing style or structure in addition to when clubfitting.
• There is no necessary correlation between being able to accurately emulate one's limb-only base pre-swing movements and/or positions through golf club specification value adjustment(s) and achieving an accurate emulation of one's limb-only base swing movements and/or positions by using the same golf club specification value(s) determined to emulate the golfer's base pre-swing. However, an approach of determining any given club specification value of a golf club so that a golfer's pre-swing movements and/or positions with that club in hand will best emulate the golfer's limb-only base pre-swing may be used if desired and if deemed helpful toward accomplishing the goal of best emulating the golfer's limb-only base swing when the golfer swings that or any golf club.
• To that end, the sensation(s) of “pre-swing feel” can also play a crucial role in the present invention. As it has long been established that pre-swing movement and/or positioning can critically affect one's subsequent golf swing movement and/or positioning, it is a natural matter of course to consider a limb-only base pre-swing as being an element of a limb-only base swing and that pre-swing feel is an important element of swing feel to be considered included within the definition provided for swing feel. But if suitable, the term “pre-swing feel” may be defined independently by essentially substituting “pre-swing” for “swing” in the stated definition of “swing feel.” As with swing feel, any other means may be used as a supplemental or replacement analysis if desired toward making a determination of pre-swing feel if, as one example, it is desired to try to obtain a more objective determination respecting the sensation(s) involved.
• It must be understood and appreciated through the present invention that alterations in any number of golf equipment specification values can affect a golfer's pre-swing movement(s) and/or position(s), which can in turn affect the golfer's subsequent golf swing and/or ball travel results. Therefore, the fitting of any golf club specification value via pre-swing movement(s) and/or position(s) toward the clubfitting goal of the present invention constitutes implementing the present invention. This applies to choosing any golf equipment specification value by way of emulating a golfer's limb-only base swing (fitting equipment to a golfer's swing) or by way of golf ball travel results (fitting equipment to ball travel). This position is supported in part by the fact that the limb-only base golf gripping structure or style, which has already been disclosed as largely determining how a golfer will subsequently swing, is fundamentally and ideally developed and determined during the pre-swing period.
• In describing other attributes of a pre-swing period for reference here that may pertain to the present invention, a simple physical definition of a pre-swing period for any given swing when a golfer is making multiple golf swings within a reasonable period of time is the period that fundamentally begins at the end of any previously performed swing (any practice or test swing is a swing, including but not limited to limb-only swinging, swinging for the purpose of clubfitting, a partial swing, and a putting stroke) and ends at the start of the backswing of the given swing. But if no traditional backswing is made for the given swing and a golf club head is set in midair in one's golf stance as one example, then the pre-swing period ends at the start of the forward swing. A more complex but accurate definition that can be applied at any time has the pre-swing period or just pre-swing beginning with any thought or action to prepare for a swing and ending the same as that described above. For purposes of golf swing preparation and/or learning, clubfitting, and/or other possible tasks, a pre-swing period can be performed, unique information obtained potentially leading to working on pre-swing changes, and even certain golf club specification values unique to the pre-swing period fit, without actually making a subsequent swing.
• Fitting values of various golf club specifications to a golfer when clubfitting, in addition to the golfer generally using a variety of different golf clubs in which each club can commonly be varied regarding specification values as well, generally also utilizes many different clubfitting tools or devices to aid in fitting many different golf club specifications and specification values. Such tools might be applied in the course of fitting any given golf club specification or specification value, whether fitting through the golfer's pre-swing movement and/or positioning, through emulating the golfer's limb-only or clubless base golf swing performance, and/or through the golfer's golf ball travel results as examples. Determining a golf club specification value that can be fit during the pre-swing period for instance might include the use of a golf club and a means to aid in determining a pre-swing rotation point location (called a waggle weight point) about the golf club as a golfer moves the club during the golfer's pre-swing period. Lie boards, club face and sole impact tape and lead tape, club face angle, grip size, and other golf club measuring gauges, scales to measure golf club swingweight (swing weight) or waggle weight, shaft frequency and other shaft characteristic analyzers, loft and lie machines, and clubhead and shaft adapters are just some of the multitude of tool devices used in the fitting of golf clubs to golfers. Other clubfitting tools include but are not limited to golf swing analyzers and launch monitors that commonly utilize a variety of computer-implemented hardware and/or software devices. Such devices might include but not limited to various types of hardware sensors to aid in gathering golfer, golf club, and/or golf ball travel information that might be further analyzed and/or displayed with the aid of software programming.
• Some of the same devices utilized to help fit golf clubs to golfers are also commonly used to help further develop the golf swings of golfers and vice versa. Hardware and/or software golf swing analyzers and launch monitors, golf club balancing scales like swingweight scales, golf club loft and lie measuring and adjusting tools, and golf grip sizing apparatus are just a few of the devices that can impact both the swing development and clubfitting facets of a golfer's game. Some such tools or devices might be directly handled by or physically in contact with a golfer like golf clubs of varying specification values for swinging with, while some might be indirect in nature like a video camera at a distance used to record a golfer's swing. Specifically within a swing development or clubfitting process not limited to when a golfer's base golf grip and swing is performed in a limb-only or clubless manner, any golf clubs, golf club devices, and/or specialized test clubs that might for instance be constructed to help more conveniently fit values of determined golf club specifications to a golfer, are considered tools/devices of use within the same context or scope as the other example devices noted above for the express purpose of helping to further develop a golfer's swing or helping to best fit values of determined golf club specifications to a golfer respectively.
• With respect to the limb-only base golf grip and swing development facet of the present invention, and if preferred to emulate another's limb-only golf grip and/or swing rather than preferring to allow a golfer's limb-only golf grip and swing to develop naturally around the structure of the present invention, then the specific emulating of another's limb-only golf grip and/or swing or any other developed limb-only base golf grip and swing style or structure might be implemented by or for many golfers and is perfectly acceptable practice. However, with respect to the golf club fitting facet of the present invention, fitting any golf club specification value to a golfer's base swing can only be achieved through emulating that own golfer's limb-only base swing and nobody else's, regardless of the perceived level of development of the golfer's limb-only base grip and swing at the time of the clubfitting.
• Sequentially one might choose golf club parts or club specification values to obtain any desired golf ball travel result as a secondary priority of clubfitting, without compromising the quality of golf swing performance achieved in the previous process, to complete a most advanced and comprehensive equipment fitting method. Some golf club specifications, including but not limited to golf club head loft, club lie (the angle of the club head relative to the club shaft), and shaft flexibility, may ordinarily but not always be considered to have an effect on golf ball travel result but generally not on the performance of a golf swing directly. Such specifications may now be selected to fine-tune golf ball travel in any manner desired, with the highest priority remaining the quality of swing performance acquired in the prior process to comprehensively best fit any clubs. No particular order is specified for fitting such club parts and/or specifications and may be chosen by preference. As it is when fitting directly to swing performance as the first priority, changing any given golf club specification value may affect the fit of any other club specification value regarding golf ball travel result also, so certain parts and/or specifications might have to be analyzed more than once during the fitting process.
• Other golf club specifications, including but not limited to swingweight, waggle weight, face angle (square, open, closed), and grip size, can affect both direct golf swing performance and also subsequent ball travel results. In implementing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, if a particular golf grip size results in an undesirable golf ball travel curvature result after being struck by a golfer, yet the identical grip size results in the best “swing feel” for the golfer and/or the best swing performance match to the golfer's limb-only base swing(s) over other grip sizes, then that particular golf grip size should be chosen for the golfer. Other golf club specifications fundamentally affecting golf ball travel results but not direct golf swing performance might then be adjusted in value instead of grip size to help achieve a desired ball travel result without negatively impacting the golfer's swing performance.
• Another example might involve choosing between two popular golf shaft models of today named Dynamic Gold S300 and Dynamic Gold X100. Both are essentially the same design except for step locations that as a whole are moved two inches more toward the clubhead end on the X100, resulting in somewhat different stiffness qualities (the X100 being stiffer) and shaft diameters along comparable points of their lengths. Developed swing speed and/or ball travel results are two of the most common elements looked at when deciding between the two shafts. However, the two-inch difference in step patterns, which may come into play in the form of different shaft diameters under different parts of the hands when each model is gripped (held on to), can result in profound differences in direct swing performance between the two golf shafts. Yet such direct swing performance is most often ignored in clubfitting, instead applying the aforesaid and/or similar principles that are generally less effective at producing the best overall playing improvement. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first priority in choosing between these two shafts should be based on direct swinging performance that most closely matches one's limb-only base swinging. Other club specifications may subsequently be altered as desired, with the firm understanding that retaining the highest quality of direct golf swing performance means the best club fit at clubfitting's most basic level.
• Golfer performance, whether referencing direct swing performance or golf ball travel result and not unlike manufactured articles, are subject to tolerances, in which acceptable swinging performance and golf swing motion might for example be achieved within a certain range of a golf club specification's values. Swingweight is one good example, where even the best of golfers can often swing well with three consecutive values of swingweight. While through “swing feel” a golf club's effective clubhead weight may feel a little heavy at the highest swingweight value of an acceptable swingweight range and a little light at the lowest value, overall swing performance is often still acceptable within such a range. If fitting a golf club specification value to a limb-only base golf swing performance and no other issue such as golf ball travel result is contemplated, then the best embodiment of the present invention consists of finding the range of consecutive specification values that might be found in which swings may be substantially the same as the limb-only base swing, and from that selecting the specification value that is in the middle of that range. Note that specification value ranges will not always be found and can depend on the particular golf club specification being fit, the sensitivity and/or talent level of the golfer being fit, and more. And when specification value ranges are found, such ranges may be different for different golfers again due to different golfer sensitivities and/or talent levels. If a specification value range is found and the middle value is selected based on fitting to a golfer's limb-only base swing, and then it is additionally attempted to fit the same golf club specification also based upon a sought golf ball travel result, it may be possible to slightly alter the specification's value while still remaining within the tolerance range previously shown to still produce good swinging results and at the same time obtain a slightly better golf ball travel result. While an undetermined amount of direct swing performance quality might be sacrificed in doing so, due to such golf club specification value ranges that can exist, it may be possible to slightly alter any given golf club specification value in order to try and obtain a better golf ball travel result while still maintaining acceptable swinging performance if one desires, albeit the chosen value may be one that may be right on the fringe of being able to swing comparably well to that of the limb-only base golf swing.
• As a different example, a particular golf club that results in a noticeable and perhaps unwanted change to a golfer's swing plane might still be preferred over other club choices because the coordination timing element of the golfer's swing may be best with the particular club and determined to be a more important swing element than the golfer's swing plane, with both the desired swing plane and swing coordination timing elements determined to be not practically achievable with the particular golf club. Subsequently modifying a different club specification(s) value such that the golfer's swing timing is not adversely affected may be done if desired to adjust golf ball travel result if the change in swing plane contributes to a less-than-desirable ball travel result. As might be seen, even when an element like swing feel is not expressly involved and regardless of whether good or bad, subjective decisions may still at times be required in golf, necessitating that elements such as golf swing development and golf club fitting be at least partly classified as art forms and not 100% science, at least not at the present time.
• FIG. 24 shows thegolfer42 having just completed a golf swing and hit agolf ball48. Several golf club and golf ball travel statistics may be measureable with alaunch monitor50. Thegolf club46 has already been configured pursuant to the direct swing performance fitting process described earlier and displayed inFIGS. 6-11 and18-23. Launch monitors and/or similarly named devices have become very prevalent in recent times for aiding in analyzing certain golfer, golf club, and/or golf ball travel data. While the use of such devices, often computer-implemented, can be a valuable help in the right hands, launch monitors primarily focus on ball travel results and not direct swing performance of golfers. The launch monitor results52, displaying one likely measurement, indicate theball launch angle54 as thirty degrees. It might be pre-determined based upon any number of input elements that the best overall golf ball travel distance achievable by thegolfer42 may be obtained with a ball launch angle of twenty-five degrees from theparticular golf club46 being used. Thegolf club head56 might subsequently be adjusted or replaced with a club head having otherwise mutual characteristics except for five degrees less club head loft. Thus, golf ball travel can be altered and improved for thegolfer42, and in a way by altering a golf club specification that does not adversely influence the golfer's swing performance as determined and achieved in the preceding process.
• FIG. 25 is a flow chart of one comprehensive embodiment of the present invention. First is forming a secure golf grip using only a body'slimbs58. While not ideal, a golf grip substitute might be employed if it is determined that the subsequent golf swing does not substantially change over a completely limb-only grip and swing performance. Second is developing a golf swing using the formedgrip60, using only the body's limbs to work with and absent the use of any golf clubs or golf club devices. If desired to not simply allow the golf swing to further develop on its own in its own manner and at its own pace based of the formation of the limb-only gripping structure, a desired base golf swing structure may be sought out. As disclosed earlier, the limb-only grip and/or subsequent swing may be based on any determined golf grip and/or golf swing style. A current performance of a limb-only golf grip and/or swing, which is considered to be any past performance if judged that the limb-only grip and/or swing structures have not changed since said past performance, will commonly be analyzed or at least observed by the one who performed said golf grip and/or swing and/or perhaps another individual before a determination is made as to what desired golf swing structure might be sought out for emulation. Other means may also be utilized to supplement or replace such a type of initial analysis or observation, including but not limited to analyzing a specimen of said limb-only golf grip and/or swing as recorded by a video or computer-implemented device that can display information about the performed golf grip and/or swing. But such an initial analysis is not absolutely required before a determination is made as to what desired golf grip and/or swing structures want to be emulated.
• The desired golf swing structure to be emulated should be portrayed in a structure where the golf grip is taken in a limb-only manner or with a golf grip substitute and the swing is subsequently performed as such. Obtaining a specimen of the desired golf swing structure for reference was discussed in detail earlier. Subsequently, a specimen of the swing that is to emulate the desired swing is obtained and the two swing structures compared. Various specimen types of the swing that is to emulate the desired swing were also discussed earlier as well as various ways to compare specimens of the swing that is to emulate the desired swing and the desired swing. Upon comparing specimens of the two different golf swing structures, a determination(s) may be made regarding how to try to best develop the limb-only swing structure that is to emulate the desired limb-only base swing into the desired limb-only base swing structure. Various methods, strategies, devices, exercises, and so forth to try to transform all or part of a golf swing from one structure or style to another structure or style at times seem almost as numerous as golfers and the scope of the present invention does not include a deep discussion of these aspects. The present invention provides the best foundation for determining what the true structure of any given golf swing currently is and what the true structure of any golf swing that wants to be emulated is. How to specifically transform from one to the other is up to each entity, and any methods, strategies, devices, and/or exercises may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.
• Thenext step62 initiates the clubfitting process by fitting at least one golf club to the developed swing, whereby swinging performance with the at least one golf club is reproduced as accurately as possible to the limb-only base golf swing. As noted earlier, the limb-only base golf swing may be at any stage of development at the time of the clubfitting. While the disadvantage(s) of an undeveloped golf grip and/or swing structure should be obvious, nevertheless even a beginner golfer able to formulate some kind of limb-only base gripping structure as described within the present disclosure and make any kind of swing may have a golf club fit to that base gripping structure and/or swing if desired in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, for the purpose of the present invention, fitting a single golf club specification value to a golfer's base grip and/or swing constitutes the fitting of a golf club and implements the present invention. With a golf club having many different golf club specifications, it is not uncommon for one or more or nearly every club specification value to fit a golfer well through one or more previous golf club fitting processes for instance, where a fitting of perhaps only a single golf club specification value for the golfer might be all that is needed and may make a profound difference in the overall club fit.
• Some additional aspects regarding the clubfitting process to a limb-only base golf swing structure are as follows. Depending on the particular golf club specification being fit and the golf club devices available, the fitting of any given golf club specification might reasonably require just one or multiple golf club devices. For example, the fitting of golf club swingweight is often enacted through the temporary addition and removal of adhesive lead tape to a golf club's clubhead. Such a procedure can routinely be done rather readily, allowing a single golf club to be used while a golfer tries different values of swingweight. However, with a specification such as golf grip size, in which grips generally need to be installed using a solvent and allowed to dry overnight before use, it is typically not reasonable to try to use the same golf club for fitting golf grip size. In such a case, multiple golf clubs or golf club devices will usually have various grip sizes installed on them beforehand, with multiple golf clubs generally being used for the testing and fitting of a single golf club specification like grip size.
• As various values of any given golf club specification are tried during the clubfitting process and depending upon how swings with the various values will be compared with the reference limb-only base swing (that is through golfer swing feel, the watchful eye of a separate observer, or any type of golf swing analysis device as examples), how much the limb-only base golf swing will have to referenced during the process can vary greatly. As an example, it was noted earlier that a more experienced golfer might be so familiar with his or her swing feel that the golfer's reference limb-only base golf grip and swing structure will not even have to be physically performed initially at the time of starting to implement the present invention's clubfitting process. A past performance of the same is frequently firmly implanted in such a golfer's mind and is considered to be beginning the clubfitting process of the present invention. Similarly, when such a golfer begins testing various values of any given golf club specification, the golfer may be able to go through a determined entire range of specification values without physically making his or her reference limb-only base golf grip and/or swing at all, knowing firmly in mind which specification value or values best substantially replicate the golfer's reference limb-only base golf swing when coming across and swinging with that particular specification value(s), without the need for further repetitions of the golfer's reference limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structure.
• Alternately, however, for a golfer who does not have such a level of swing feel, and comparisons between the golfer's reference limb-only base golf swing and swings made with various values of any given golf club specification are done through video image comparisons for example, the golfer's limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structures might have to be referenced after every value of the golf club specification tried, with this process repeated until all determined values of the specification are tried or until perhaps a definite pattern emerges through video comparisons where a decision can be made before all values are tried as to which specification value best substantially replicates the golfer's reference limb-only base swing. So again, while fitting any given golf club specification, the number of times the limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures are or should be referenced can vary considerably based on factors such as golfer talent level and the method used to compare the base swing with swings made using various golf club specification values. The limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures should be referenced when deemed needed or advantageous and there is no minimum or maximum number in this regard. If the limb-only base golf swing is performed essentially live and the fit of a golf club specification value is attempted through swing feel, then the limb-only base golf swing may be performed again any time it is deemed helpful in the course of swinging with and trying different values of any given golf club specification. If the limb-only base golf swing has been physically recorded, then the recording may be referenced at any time in the course of swinging with and trying different values of any given golf club specification. For the purpose of this disclosure, any time a recorded limb-only base golf swing is referenced, it is considered to be the equivalent of performing the limb-only base golf swing live again. It can be noted here that even though the limb-only base golf gripping and/or swinging structures are far better representations of a golfer's true golf gripping and/or swinging structures as well as being more consistent in nature, that does not mean they will automatically be performed perfectly every time. Thus, for any number of reasons one should not feel totally bound by any given performance of a limb-only base golf grip and/or swing. The reference limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structures may be performed over at any time if desired and work continued or started over using the new base golf grip and/or swing structures for reference.
• The present invention's clubfitting process may of course be repeated for the fitting of additional golf club specifications. As implied above, a golfer having never been fit for golf clubs before may want to have every golf club specification that can possibly affect the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing structure fit to him or her. Alternately, a more experienced golfer that may have previously been fit for golf clubs might have any number of the many different influential golf club specifications already correct and may want to reanalyze the fit of as little as one single golf club specification that might be of critical importance to the golfer. While a discussion could be engaged in regarding some golf club specifications being more important than others toward a golfer's base golf swing performance, this is generally a rather subjective undertaking in that how far off any given club specification's value might be for a golfer is extremely influential in this regard, plus a specification like golf club swingweighting technically works extremely well for many golfers and yet not at all for others among every different playing level. So this particular facet that can unintentionally be misleading to any given golfer will not be investigated here.
• The present invention can be further implemented by also comparing golf clubs side by side after they have been individually fitted. For instance, after all offered golf club specifications have been fit to best emulate a golfer's limb-only base golf gripping and swinging structures for each of two golf clubs that might have different golf shafts in them as one example, the golfer may further proceed by swinging these two golf clubs side by side an undetermined number of times to compare them. Even though they have both already been fit to the golfer, due to the immense selection of golf club components that can vary widely in design and that essentially changes constantly, one of these golf clubs might be swung noticeably better than the other. In such a case, the golfer's limb-only base golf swing structure is still the ultimate reference swing that is used against which to compare both golf clubs, and where it might be found that the golfer's limb-only base golf swing structure is reproduced better when swinging one of the clubs compared with the other club. Such side-by-side swinging comparisons between different clubs as further clubfitting processes do not necessarily need to wait until every golf club specification determined to influence a golfer's limb-only base golf swing performance is fit to the clubs to be compared, although it is reasonable to think that any number of like specifications should be fit to the clubs to be subsequently compared or any such comparison may be invalid. With most important golf swing performance based on limb-only base golf grip and swing structures attended to, consideration can now be given to golf ball travel results.
• Continuing,step64 comprises the completion of the clubfitting process by further fitting the at least one golf club to obtain a desired golf ball travel result, whereby the swing performance achieved in62 is judiciously maintained. Here also, the fitting of a single golf club specification value to obtain a desired golf ball travel result constitutes further fitting the at least one golf club. As noted earlier, the successive steps of62 and64 may comprise their own unique independent equipment fitting method, whereas the steps of58 and60 may comprise a novel independent swing development method, both methods within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, while the implementation of golf club fitting based upon golf ball travel result(s) is an essential part of a comprehensive clubfitting process in addition to direct swing performance result(s), there may be circumstances in which swing performance clubfitting alone may wish to be conducted for any given golf club specification(s) to the complete exclusion of any golf ball travel result(s), in whichcase62 ofFIG. 25 may be implemented as a stand-alone clubfitting process within the scope of the present invention. The fitting of any given golf club specification value to a golfer in accordance with the golfer's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing performance is not simply limited to full, hard golf swings. Such a golf club specification value fitting process may be implemented on all variations of golf swings/strokes that can be performed from full swings to partial or half swings to chipping shots to putting strokes. Moreover, the fitting of any given golf club specification value to a golfer according to the golfer's reference limb-only base golf grip and/or swing performance does not simply mean emulating every possible characteristic or swing performance element of the reference limb-only base golf grip and/or swing performance without exception. With a multitude of various golf club lengths routinely being used that can force alterations in a golfer's address postures and/or swing planes compared with the golfer's limb-only base address posture and/or swing plane as examples, it may be determined to emulate only one or more particular elements or characteristics of the golfer's reference limb-only base golf grip and/or swing, such as the golfer's overall swing timing or coordination for instance, and ignore one or more particular elements or characteristics, such as the golfer's address posture or swing plane for instance.
• Limb-only base formed golf grips, pre-swings, and/or swings of a golfer and/or any specimen to be emulated by the golfer, as well as formed golf grips, pre-swings, and/or swings of a golfer and/or any specimen when using any golf clubs, golf club specifications, golf club devices, or swing devices, may of course be broken down into smaller movement(s) and/or positioning(s) for better comparative analyses if desired. Although often separated in this disclosure for better detail and explanation, in the broadest scope of the present invention the term “golf swing” or just “swing” will by default include a pre-swing period to the swing unless specifically indicated otherwise, and also include the forming and formation of a gripping structure, which take place during the pre-swing period. Accordingly, the breaking down of a “swing” into smaller movement(s) and/or positioning(s) may comprise isolating the swing's pre-swing period or gripping structure as examples or even further breaking down such swing parts if deemed helpful within the present invention's swing development or club fitting process.
• Other factors within swing development and equipment fitting processes can influence swing feel, including but not limited to wearing apparel of all types, apparel of which can thus also be considered equipment, and/or ball or other object travel results, including but not limited to features of the ball or object itself, another example of an item that can be considered equipment. Therefore, it is preferable to not limit the scope of the present invention to golf clubs or golf club specifications with respect to equipment in general and golf equipment more specifically.
• While seemingly contrary to following the most logical course of first developing and/or improving one's base golf swing and subsequently first fitting any golf club specifications directly to one's existing base golf swing, it may instead be desired by some fitters to implement the present invention's clubfitting method steps (62 and64) in reverse order than what has been presented to this point. In any such cases, ball travel results would be the first priority and direct swing performance the second priority. Fitting directly to one's base swing performance might still fall within the guidelines of the embodiment(s) presented, wherein clubfitting success or failure is determined by how well golf swings are reproduced or emulated with any golf club in hand relative to limb-only base golf swings without using any golf clubs or golf club devices. However, different golf club specification values may initially be chosen if proceeding with golf ball travel results as the higher priority. While golf swing performance may still seem to be acceptable at the end of such a fitting process, any golf club specification value may be substantially different as a result of this reversal of the clubfitting method. Such outcomes may occur due to an ability of many golfers to adjust their swings a certain amount if their swings are ignored during clubfitting at the expense of fitting golf club specification values based on golf ball travel results as the highest priority.
• People even only moderately experienced at golf are generally aware of how much a golf swing can be affected by certain changes in golf club specification values. In light of this knowledge, fitting golf clubs to golfers by way of golf ball travel results as the first priority and direct swing performance as the second priority can be considered a form of fitting a golf swing to golf clubs and/or golf ball travel results rather than fitting golf clubs and/or golf ball travel results to a golf swing. It can ordinarily be stated that fitting golf clubs directly to a base golf swing as the first priority is the recommended method to achieve the best overall golfing performance, but the reverse method may be used if deemed advantageous toward producing the most effective clubfitting. Via either means, at least one golf club or other piece of equipment may subsequently be produced to any equipment specification(s) value determined during the fitting process.
• The ultimate implementation of the present invention is that as described within the present disclosure, as the limb-only gripping process is at its most accurate and consistent when no external device of any type is placed within one's hands, thus also leading to the most accurate and consistent performing of one's true limb-only base golf swing at any level of development. However, while a limb-only gripping process would reasonably be fundamentally easier to implement for a golfer that has already had an undetermined amount of experience at taking hold of a real golf club in a manner that is traditionally taught, a less experienced golfer might struggle more with learning how to implement an efficient limb-only golf grip.
• To this end, a process may be implemented if desired in which an actual object or succession of objects may be placed within a golfer's hands that may potentially aid in helping the golfer ultimately develop an efficient limb-only golf grip. The objective of this process is to begin with a real object in the golfer's hands of as large a general diameter as the golfer is initially comfortable with, where larger diameter objects to hold onto might initially be more comfortable for a golfer that is completely unaccustomed to a limb-only gripping process from which to perform and further develop if desired the golfer's true limb-only base golf swing, the swing structure which is also used to reference in the course of golf club fitting to the golfer's limb-only base golf swing.
• The process continues with the objective of diminishing the general diameter of the object within the golfer's hands or in effect weaning the golfer off of the larger diameter object(s) as the golfer becomes more accustomed to and/or skilled at taking his/her golf gripping structure with the larger diameter object(s) first, with the eventual outcome of the golfer being able to take a completely limb-only golf gripping structure in an efficient manner and with no external physical object needed at all within the golfer's hands.
• This process is not limited to being used by less skilled golfers and may in fact be implemented as desired by golfers of any playing ability. For example, many golfers will justifiably tend to go back and review their golfing fundamentals on occasion, sometimes on a regularly scheduled basis, even if they happen to already be playing very well in order to make sure that any inadvertent physical and/or psychological element(s) have not entered or left the process or direction the golfer wants to follow or is supposed to be following. To this end, even if a very good golfer is concerned about or just wants to review his/her limb-only gripping structure, the golfer may want to insert such an object into his/her hands and reference the gripping structure taken with the device in hand against the golfer's pure limb-only gripping structure. Such a review might potentially bring to light something the golfer may want to work on regarding the golfer's eventual limb-only gripping structure.
• There is no specific number disclosed of such objects that might be considered in a set so to speak to step down or diminish in general diameter to best effectively wean a golfer from implementing a gripping structure commonly more comfortably done with a larger diameter object at the start down to a limb-only condition at finish. This number may vary as desired and such objects might generally range in diameters from typical finished golf grip sizes at the high end that are routinely published by many different golf related entities down to as small a diameter as deemed practicable before a complete limb-only gripping structure is taken by a golfer. Additionally, if any such set of objects is devised, there is no requirement that every one of them be used on every golfer and only selected objects may be utilized based upon as examples the beginning skill and/or comfort level of each individual golfer regarding the golfer's gripping structure technique.
• One or more such object devices may be specially produced if desired for this specific purpose of helping a golfer ultimately develop his/her best limb-only base golf grip from which to develop the golfer's limb-only base golf swing. As noted, each device would generally be circular in diameter, although various device sizes may be made having different diameters. However, any other shape may be devised as desired, such as a shape formed to fit in and/or influence the positions of a golfer's hands in a specific manner if deemed advantageous toward the best ultimate development of the golfer's limb-only base golf grip structure.
• Beyond the general round diameter of the device, which may or may not be solid in nature, and in referring toFIG. 4, the length of the device should be such that it just covers the entire span of thehands20 and22 alongaxis36. A device length that is notably longer than this provides no benefit and may interfere with the best development of a golfer's hand positions along the length of the device. The device may be made adjustable in its length as desired to accommodate various golfer hand sizes, shapes, and gripping structures or styles as examples. In the ten-fingered or baseball gripping style or structure ofFIG. 1 for instance where no overlapping or interlocking of thehands20 and22 takes place, the device length will need to be slightly longer. Furthermore, use of the described device will be essentially mandatory for a golfer that prefers a ten-fingered or baseball style golf gripping structure depicted inFIG. 1 in order to help assure that the twohands20 and22 are aligned along a consistent axis as they would reasonably be when an actual golf club were being held on to. Thus, the situation depicted inFIG. 1 that would often be encountered without the use of such a device, where theaxes30 and32 through the hands would be more prone to being different starting right with the initial hand gripping positions and then often getting worse when subsequently swinging, would be avoided. But while the use of such a device would be quite critical throughout a base golf grip and base golf swing structuring process and/or a clubfitting process to a golfer's base swing when a ten-fingered or baseball structure or style golf grip for example is implemented by a golfer, the use of such a device can more easily be ultimately eliminated when gripping styles or structures are used where parts of the golfer's hands are overlapped or interlocked as depicted inFIGS. 2 through 5.
• The construction and/or use of such a device or set of devices as desired should assure that the device(s) is generally sufficiently rigid enough along its length to not appreciably bend or flex in the course of a golfer practicing initially forming his or her gripping structure around the device and potentially swinging with the device in hand so the golfer might best get used the gripping structure and also subsequently swinging with such a gripping structure. The situation ofFIG. 1 where theaxes30 and32 running through thehands20 and22 are not consistent with each other needs to be avoided in order to best implement the present invention but can be encountered even with the use of a discrete device placed within a golfer's hands such as that described if the device is not rigid enough along its length. As more rigidity is easier to accomplish in objects of larger diameters and since various diameters of the described device(s) may be utilized in order to ideally eventually wean a golfer down to no such device being required at all when the golfer forms his or her gripping structure or style, various diameters of the device(s) described may be made of different materials in order to achieve a sufficient amount of rigidity along the lengths of various diameters of the device(s) used to help any given golfer accomplish the goal(s) of the present invention in an efficient manner. Any such differences in the material(s) used to construct such a device(s) might come into play more for the smaller or smallest diameter(s) of the device(s) to be produced, where material(s) of a less common or more specialized nature may be needed in order to achieve the desired rigidity of such a device(s).
• The purpose again is for a golfer to use smaller and smaller diameter objects or devices placed within the golfer's hands and for the golfer to become accustomed to implementing a golf gripping structure and swinging under such conditions until the golfer is sufficiently skilled that such a device(s) is ultimately no longer needed ideally, and whereby if successful the best consistency and accuracy will be achieved in implementing the present invention. As the goal is for a golfer to eventually form a limb-only base golf grip and swing structure, in addition to the stiffness characteristic of the device(s) described above, the goal should also be to make any such devices as light as possible, particularly as approaching the smallest device diameter(s) and the final limb-only condition that is being sought in connection with the present invention. (However, once an appropriate gripping structure is developed, other possibilities also open up, like the design and construction of a device similar in design to a dumbbell, with a shaft in the middle [of as small a diameter as possible given the overall design of the device] that a golfer would take his or her gripping structure on in the same way as on the device and process just described, but with added weights [that may or may not be equal] on both sides of the shaft just above and below the golfer's structured golf grip. Such a device might help promote and/or retain an efficient golf grip structure as close as possible to a limb-only gripping structure for a golfer and allow the swinging of the device in a limited space for the golfer to work on increasing the strength of the golfer's golf swing as one possibility).
• Because most actual typical golf grip models generally have a taper to them, the described device may also be designed with a taper if deemed helpful toward best weaning a golfer down to ideally a limb-only golf gripping structure. But it is not necessary and even if done would only really be applicable to larger diameters of the device generally comparable to the diameters of actual golf grip models. As the general diameter of such a device(s) decreases toward better promoting an ideally limb-only gripping structure for a golfer, a tapering of the device becomes undesirable (and would be much less noticeable anyway at considerably smaller overall device diameters) toward the goal of eventually eliminating such a device altogether on the way to developing a sound, limb-only base golf grip and swing structure. It is to be noted here again that depending upon a gofer's overall experience in the game at the time of implementing the present invention, not every golfer will be aided by the use of such a device(s). Any given golfer may be able to efficiently form a limb-only base golf grip from which to further implement the present invention without the use of the device(s) described herein that can be placed within a golfer's hands if desired to help the golfer ultimately develop an efficient limb-only golf grip structure from which to further implement the present invention.
• The present invention can be applied on a very small to a very large scale. As examples, developing a limb-only base golf grip and swing is a method that can be taught and/or learned on an individual basis and/or can be a method that is the basis for an entire organization(s) with respect to how the organization(s) as a whole and/or its members teach and/or otherwise provide instruction for improving base golf swing performance of any golf swing style. Likewise, the method of the present invention for fitting (and potentially subsequently producing) golf equipment can also be applied on an individual basis and/or the method can for instance be applied by a golf equipment manufacturer(s) to improve the design(s) of even mass-produced golf clubs for providing better fitting golf clubs overall for golfers. The invention processes described herein for the development of one's limb-only base golf grip and swing and/or the fitting of golf clubs or any golf club specification value to one's base golf grip and/or swing through the determination and emulation of one's limb-only base golf grip and/or swing may also be fundamentally applied to the development of uncounted other activities besides golf, both sporting and non-sporting activities and/or the fitting of any equipment or equipment specification value used in the performance of said activities.
• Thus, it can be seen from the above descriptions, a method of forming a limb-only base golf grip and using the formed grip to form a limb-only base golf swing is disclosed that is absent any ill-fitting and/or inconsistent golf clubs that can negatively affect the movement, positioning, and/or consistency of said base golf grip and/or swing. The formed base grip and swing are then used as consistent and accurate references of a golfer's true existing base grip and swing with which to work from toward base grip and/or swing improvement or change, and/or as consistent and accurate references to emulate toward the fitting of golf equipment to a golfer's base grip and/or swing existing at the time of the equipment fitting. The present invention may be used to also eliminate and/or determine the effect(s) of other potentially ill-fitting and/or inconsistent equipment that can affect a golfer's performance, not limited to wearing apparel of all types. An equipment fitting process is disclosed that achieves a golfer's best true swing performance by fitting the equipment directly to the golfer's limb-only base swing performance as the primary priority through best emulating the limb-only base swing through an adjustment(s) in said equipment. A succeeding step may be implemented to further fit the equipment according to golf ball travel results and/or any other desired golfing performance attributes while maintaining the swing performance previously achieved. Disclosed is producing golf equipment to the equipment specification(s) determined through the equipment fitting process. While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A method of developing a golf swing and fitting a golf club to that swing, comprising:

(a) determining a desired golf swing to emulate, said desired golf swing structured in a manner where the golf grip is formed using one of only the hands or a golf grip substitute;

(b) comparing the desired golf swing with a golf swing intended to emulate the desired golf swing, said golf swing structured in a manner where the golf grip is formed using one of only the hands or a golf grip substitute;

(c) developing said golf swing until at least one determined swing performance element of the desired golf swing is substantially emulated, said golf swing as developed used as a reference base golf swing to fit a golf club to;

(d) comparing said reference base golf swing to at least one test golf swing testing at least one value of a determined golf club specification using at least one golf club device, performing said reference base golf swing as needed; and

(e) selecting the value of said determined golf club specification that when used substantially emulates at least one determined swing performance element of the reference base golf swing.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the desired golf swing is determined through observing a video specimen of said golf swing.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a specimen of the golf swing intended to emulate the desired golf swing is a video recording of the golf swing.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the comparing in step (b) comprises comparing at least one swing performance element observed with the desired golf swing to a corresponding swing performance element observed with the golf swing.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the comparing in step (b) comprises comparing at least one swing performance element through an analysis of recorded video specimens of the desired golf swing and golf swing.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the golf swing is developed with the aid of a series of golf club devices having successive diameter reductions to help become accustomed to forming a golf grip using only the hands.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the determined golf club specification fit to the golf swing as developed is swingweight.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the determined golf club specification fit to the golf swing as developed is grip size.

9. The method ofclaim 1, comprising producing a golf club using the selected value of said determined golf club specification.

10. A method of developing a golf swing, comprising:

(a) determining a desired golf swing to emulate, said desired golf swing structured in a manner where the golf grip is formed using one of only the hands or a golf grip substitute;

(b) comparing the desired golf swing with a golf swing intended to emulate the desired golf swing, said golf swing structured in a manner where the golf grip is formed using one of only the hands or a golf grip substitute; and

(c) developing said golf swing until at least one determined swing performance element of the desired golf swing is substantially emulated.

11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the desired golf swing is determined through discovering a publication specimen containing images of said golf swing.

12. The method ofclaim 10, wherein a specimen of the golf swing intended to emulate the desired golf swing is a series of still images produced that correspond to images of the determined desired golf swing discovered in a publication.

13. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the comparing in step (b) comprises comparing at least one swing performance element observed with the desired golf swing to a corresponding swing performance element observed with the golf swing.

14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the golf swing is developed with the aid of a series of golf club devices having successive diameter reductions to help become accustomed to forming a golf grip using only the hands.

15. A method of fitting a golf club to a base golf swing, comprising:

(a) forming a golf grip using one of only the hands or a golf grip substitute;

(b) performing a reference base golf swing using the formed grip;

(c) comparing said reference base golf swing to at least one test golf swing testing at least one value of a determined golf club specification using at least one golf club device, performing said reference base golf swing as needed; and

(d) selecting the value of said determined golf club specification that when used substantially emulates at least one determined swing performance element of the reference base golf swing.

16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the comparing in step (c) comprises comparing a swing feel experienced with the reference base golf swing to a swing feel experienced with the at least one test golf swing.

17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the comparing in step (c) comprises comparing at least one swing performance element observed with the reference base golf swing to a corresponding swing performance element observed with the at least one test golf swing.

18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the comparing in step (c) comprises using a golf swing analysis device.

19. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the determined golf club specification is swingweight.

20. The method ofclaim 15, comprising producing a golf club using the selected value of said determined golf club specification.

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